Gnarlak

Gnarlak
Biographical information
Born	Pre-1927
Nationality	American
Physical information
Species	Goblin
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Dark
Eye colour	Black
Affiliation
Occupation	Gangster Owner of The Blind Pig
Loyalty	The Blind Pig

"So you're the guy with the case full of monsters, huh?"

— Gnarlak, to Newt Scamander

Gnarlak was an American goblin gangster. He ran The Blind Pig, a magical speakeasy located at 124 Macdougal Street in New York in the 1920s, which Newt Scamander visited when he was searching for information.

Biography

During her time as an Auror, Porpentina Goldstein used Gnarlak as an informant and was familiar with his establishment, The Blind Pig, and the business which occurred therein.

Gnarlak carried two wands, although his skill in wand-based magic is not known. It is also unknown how he gained ownership of such wands.

Gnarlak inside The Blind Pig in 1926

While looking for Newton Scamander's missing animals, Tina suggested that Gnarlak could be useful in their hunt. Tina, Newt, Jacob Kowalski and Queenie Goldstein met with Gnarlak, whereupon they attempted to bargain for information. Gnarlak indicated that he wasn't interested in gold or trinkets, but when Newt offered an Ashwinder egg, his interest was piqued.

However, Gnarlak then spotted Pickett, one of Newt's Bowtruckles, and was greatly interested, as they were reportedly able to pick locks. Newt reluctantly accepted this exchange. However, Gnarlak had already informed MACUSA of Newt's location in an attempt to reap the bounty on his head. MACUSA agents entered the Pig and began arresting everyone in sight.

As Gnarlak laughed with perceived victory, Jacob punched him in the face, noting that Gnarlak reminded him of his foreman. As Gnarlak lay unconscious on the floor, Newt retrieved Pickett and Apparated away with Jacob, Tina and Queenie, leaving Gnarlak to face the Aurors upon regaining consciousness. They have possibly arrested him for allowing "criminals" into his establishment, along with his general illegal dealings.

Personality and traits

Gnarlak was a highly cunning, duplicitous and unpleasant goblin, having engaged in many criminal dealings throughout his life as an black market gangster, showing no respect for American wizarding law. He was incredibly avaricious and money-minded, with his sole interest being earning a profit and gaining valuable assets, no matter what the cost. He was also very ruthless in achieving his aims, often being malicious to others, even to those who he dealt with, as when he slyly reported both Newton Scamander and Porpentina Goldstein to MACUSA, even laughing spitefully afterwards, showing he clearly distrusted and disliked wizardkind in general, like many of his species.

Magical abilities and skills

• Goblin magic: Being a goblin with his own kind of magic, Gnarlak was capable of performing wandless magic, being able to conjure a magical protective barrier around himself and levitate objects around him.

Behind the scenes

Gnarlak as he appears in LEGO Dimensions

• Gnarlak is portrayed by Ron Perlman in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• J. K. Rowling's official site, after the 20 December 2016 redesign, featured an image of a page from an early draft of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay with a deleted scene in which Gnarlak mentions that he was from "the old country", Great Britain, like Newton Scamander, and that his whole family is with Gringotts in the "treasure-and-curse" business.
• Although never mentioned, Gnarlak's fingers are severely malformed, bending almost completely backwards at the second knuckle. Despite this he seems to have no difficulty using his hands.

Appearances

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• LEGO Dimensions
• J. K. Rowling's official site (Mentioned on a draft script page)